U.S. DDGS EXPORTS TO JAPAN IN 2012 HIT RECORD

JANUARY 2013

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(Posted Tue. Jan 8th, 2013)

Jan. 8: Last week, the U.S. Grains Council, of which the National Corn Growers Association is a founding member, announced an important milestone in the growth of U.S. distillers dried grains with solubles exports. According to the Ministry of Finance Customs, Japan imported more than 384,000 metric tons of U.S. DDGS between January and October 2012, marking the highest imports on record.

“The growth of U.S. DDGS exports to Japan is exciting for a multitude of reasons,” said NCGA President Pam Johnson. “DDGS provide a high quality feed ingredient while making efficient use of an ethanol co-product. The rise in this product’s popularity in Japan, the largest export market for U.S. corn and a valued trade partner, reaffirms that, through innovations in both production and use, America’s corn farmers will continue to meet growing global demand for food, feed, fuel and fiber.”

According to USGC Director in Japan, Tommy Hamamoto, imports are on track to reach 450,000 metric tons in calendar year 2012, far surpassing even the new record. Hamamoto also suggested that, provided that U.S. ethanol and DDGS production rebound, imports could increase even more in 2013 as Japanese nutritionists gain familiarity with the new low-fat DDGS.